Incident Code

Previous code

Incident date

Location

Airwars assessment

In what has been described as a massacre, between 50 and 70 civilians were reportedly killed – mostly women and children according to local media – by US-led Coalition airstrikes on Al Baghouz camp. In addition to this, “dozens” were reportedly wounded.

Sources described “devastating bombs of enormous proportions” which bombarded the vicinity in the early hours of Monday morning.

Arabic RT News reported that coalition spokesman Sean Ryan, told the Russian news agency that “We do not see any evidence of casualties among civilians, and we take very seriously all the news about the civilian deaths”… “We are taking very serious measures to avoid civilian casualties,” he added.

The civilians were allegedly trapped in the last enclave under the control of the Daesh.

According to Sana News, “the aggression targeted dozens of families while trying to escape from the areas where Daesh terrorists are positioned”, and that “according to the sources, the death toll is likely to rise as most of the wounded sustained serious injuries.”

The incident occured around dawn.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

50–70

(0–2 children0–2 women)

Civilians reported injured

12–24

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Incident date

Location

Geolocation

Geolocation accuracy

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that the Coalition renewed shelling on Al Baghouz after midnight on March 3, 2019. One of the shells allegedly struck an ammunition depot that caused a large explosion in the camp. According to one local source, up to 250 civilians were killed and wounded.

In a tweet, @Sakeraldeen reported that the only field hospital tent burned, including dozens of wounded women, children. The source included a video that shows several burned bodies. He added that the Coalition used white phosphorus in the attack.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

12–250

(12–25 children12–25 women)

Civilians reported injured

2–250

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Incident Code

Previous code

Incident date

Location

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that Coalition air- and artillery strikes struck Al Baghouz “camp” on the night of March 3rd 2019. One source reported that civilians were killed and injured in the attack, including five people from the same family, but did not provide more details.

The incident occured around midnight.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

1–5

Civilians reported injured

1–5

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Location

Geolocation

Geolocation accuracy

Airwars assessment

According to several local sources including ISIS, the Coalition killed between 50 and 100 civilians when an airstrike struck Al-Baghouz in the final stages of the fight against ISIS’ last territorial stronghold.

While reports varied on the exact number of civilian casualties, most sources claimed that the majority of the victims were women and children. Syria TV specified that among the dead were two women and two children. Al Souria and al Jisr TV, citing ISIS, gave a casualty tally of 100, but said this was both dead and injured.

Geolocation notes (0) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

Original strike reports

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve launched a precision strike in support of Syrian Democratic Forces against an ISIS command and control facility, formerly used as a mosque in Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2019.

ISIS used the former mosque to direct attacks and employ vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices against CJTF-OIR and partner forces. Otherwise protected under the Geneva Convention, ISIS caused the mosque to lose its protected status afforded by the Law of Armed Conflict.

“This mosque lost its protected status when ISIS deliberately chose to use it as a command and control center,” said U.K. Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, CJTF-OIR deputy commander-strategy and information. “This strike on ISIS will further hasten their defeat in the MERV.”

Coalition Forces, comprising 74 partner nations and five international organizations, are deployed in support of CJTF-OIR, working by, with and through partner forces to bring about the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Monday 11 February – Typhoons supported the Syrian Democratic Forces east of Abu Kamal in Syria, striking two Daesh strong-points, including a heavy machine-gun position...As the Syrian Democratic Forces have continued their operations to clear the last small remaining pocket of Daesh-held territory that has been identified in eastern Syria, Royal Air Force aircraft have maintained daily armed reconnaissance support, delivering air attacks if needed by the SDF on the ground. On Monday 11 February, the SDF encountered two Daesh strong-points on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, across the river from Abu Kamal. These strong-points were directing fire, including from a heavy machine-gun, at close range against the SDF, so assistance was requested from two RAFTyphoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker. The Typhoons conducted an accurate simultaneous attack on both strong-points, hitting each with a Paveway IV guided bomb, and successfully eliminated the threat to the SDF.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

50–100

(2–100 children2–100 women1–100 men)

Civilians reported injured

1–2

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Location

Geolocation

Geolocation accuracy

Airwars assessment

In the final stages of the fight against ISIS in its last territorial stronghold, four civilians were alleged killed as a result of shelling by the International Coalition on houses in the outskirts of the town of Al-Baghouz in the eastern suburb of Deir Ezzor on the morning of February 7th.

According to Euphrates Post and Deir Ezzor 24, the victims were two women and two children. Elrabi Elyoum instead said that four men had died. Deir Ezzor 24 also blamed the deaths on ‘heavy SDF shelling’, though this was most likely Coalition fire. Euphrates Piost also mentioned an unknown number of injured civilians.

The incident occured during the day.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

4

(2 children2 women)

Civilians reported injured

1–2

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Media from sources (1) [ collapse]

Video by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitors shelling by the International Coalition and the SDF on what is left of ISIS enclave in Al-Baghuz area in the eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.

Geolocation notes (0) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

Original strike reports

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve launched a precision strike in support of Syrian Democratic Forces against an ISIS command and control facility, formerly used as a mosque in Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2019.

ISIS used the former mosque to direct attacks and employ vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices against CJTF-OIR and partner forces. Otherwise protected under the Geneva Convention, ISIS caused the mosque to lose its protected status afforded by the Law of Armed Conflict.

“This mosque lost its protected status when ISIS deliberately chose to use it as a command and control center,” said U.K. Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, CJTF-OIR deputy commander-strategy and information. “This strike on ISIS will further hasten their defeat in the MERV.”

Coalition Forces, comprising 74 partner nations and five international organizations, are deployed in support of CJTF-OIR, working by, with and through partner forces to bring about the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Monday 11 February – Typhoons supported the Syrian Democratic Forces east of Abu Kamal in Syria, striking two Daesh strong-points, including a heavy machine-gun position...As the Syrian Democratic Forces have continued their operations to clear the last small remaining pocket of Daesh-held territory that has been identified in eastern Syria, Royal Air Force aircraft have maintained daily armed reconnaissance support, delivering air attacks if needed by the SDF on the ground. On Monday 11 February, the SDF encountered two Daesh strong-points on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, across the river from Abu Kamal. These strong-points were directing fire, including from a heavy machine-gun, at close range against the SDF, so assistance was requested from two RAFTyphoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker. The Typhoons conducted an accurate simultaneous attack on both strong-points, hitting each with a Paveway IV guided bomb, and successfully eliminated the threat to the SDF.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

4

(2 children2 women)

Civilians reported injured

1–2

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Location

Geolocation

Geolocation accuracy

Airwars assessment

In the final stages of the fight against ISIS in its last territorial stronghold in Al-Baghouz, alleged Coalition shelling killed at least 16 civilians in the evening of February 11th on the outskirts of the camp, according to local sources.

Monitors reported that among the victims were seven children, eight women and one elderly man, according to the Syrian Observatory.

The Observatory also told AFP that most of the victims were family members of combatants who were struck as they tried to flee towards the Iraqi border.

No additional details are known at this time.

The incident occured around dusk.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

16

(7 children8 women1 man)

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.

Geolocation notes (0) [ collapse]

US-led Coalition Assessment:

Original strike reports

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve launched a precision strike in support of Syrian Democratic Forces against an ISIS command and control facility, formerly used as a mosque in Baghouz Fawqani, Syria, on Feb. 11, 2019.

ISIS used the former mosque to direct attacks and employ vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices against CJTF-OIR and partner forces. Otherwise protected under the Geneva Convention, ISIS caused the mosque to lose its protected status afforded by the Law of Armed Conflict.

“This mosque lost its protected status when ISIS deliberately chose to use it as a command and control center,” said U.K. Maj. Gen. Christopher Ghika, CJTF-OIR deputy commander-strategy and information. “This strike on ISIS will further hasten their defeat in the MERV.”

Coalition Forces, comprising 74 partner nations and five international organizations, are deployed in support of CJTF-OIR, working by, with and through partner forces to bring about the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Monday 11 February – Typhoons supported the Syrian Democratic Forces east of Abu Kamal in Syria, striking two Daesh strong-points, including a heavy machine-gun position...As the Syrian Democratic Forces have continued their operations to clear the last small remaining pocket of Daesh-held territory that has been identified in eastern Syria, Royal Air Force aircraft have maintained daily armed reconnaissance support, delivering air attacks if needed by the SDF on the ground. On Monday 11 February, the SDF encountered two Daesh strong-points on the eastern bank of the Euphrates, across the river from Abu Kamal. These strong-points were directing fire, including from a heavy machine-gun, at close range against the SDF, so assistance was requested from two RAFTyphoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker. The Typhoons conducted an accurate simultaneous attack on both strong-points, hitting each with a Paveway IV guided bomb, and successfully eliminated the threat to the SDF.

Summary

Civilians reported killed

16

(7 children8 women1 man)

Airwars grading

Fair

Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.